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West Easton’s mayor has been speaking with former Forty Fort Chief of Police Frederick Lahovski to serve as Police Chief of West Easton.

I had been keeping this information close to the vest for the last couple of weeks after hearing in a Wilson Borough business checkout line that an officer named, “Fred,” might become a police chief for a nearby town.

It wasn’t difficult to track down who “Fred” was and to put the pieces together of past information that was revealed at West Easton council meetings (one tidbit was that the prospect had been a Chief in a town “north of us”). Still, much of my information wasn’t concrete, though I was fairly certain it all fit.

I did a bit of fishing by telling a West Easton councilman that I was trying to find out the last name of somebody named “Fred,” who I heard is being tapped for our C.O.P.

“Well, Freddy still needs a couple of certifications that have to be sent in from the state,” was the reply.

I now had my confirmation, but it wasn’t exactly a done deal and Fred Lahovski is still employed as a part-time officer for Wilson Borough. Lest we forget, the Wilson representatives are those who unanimously voted not to discuss providing police coverage to West Easton. I didn’t want to place Officer Lahovski in an awkward position with his Wilson employers, nor did I want to jeopardize any ongoing negotiation between West Easton and Lahovski.

However, the cat is out of the bag with the appearance of a couple of paragraphs in a blog that names Officer Lahovski as being selected for the position. So, no need to hold back the information since he has been outed by someone else. Hopefully, the early disclosure doesn’t put any wrinkles in getting it all done, or delay the process further.

Officer Lahovski’s Police History

Colonial Regional Police

While The Express-Times and The Morning Call have mentioned his employment with Colonial Regional as a police officer, I have found no incident reports that involve him. I’ll rely on The Morning Call’s editorial staff for the fact being reported, as correct.

Tatamy

Officer Lahovski was involved in the rescue of a 9-year old boy from a kidnapper that resulted from a call involving a violation of a Protection From Abuse Order on June 7, 2009. Then Cpl. Frederick J. Lahovski of the Tatamy Borough Police Department rescued the boy from the passenger seat of the suspect’s vehicle and carried him to safety, as shots were exchanged between two state troopers and the suspect. One state trooper and the suspect were killed in the incident.

Bethlehem

Officer Lahovski served 8 years with the Bethlehem Police. During a 2003 standoff in Freemansburg, Lahovski, then working for the Bethlehem Township, Pa., Police Department, tackled a gunman and knocked the weapon from his hand.

Nazareth

Probably a decision he regrets.

Officer Lahovski served with the Nazareth Police during the reign of then Mayor Fred Daugherty, Jr., who was intent on contracting police services from another community, or relying on Regional police services, as he tried to eliminate his own community police protection.

Nazareth has had its’ problems. One councilman was convicted of interfering with an investigation and has since entered a First-Time Offenders Program. Another councilman was recently found drunk and passed out over the steering wheel of his vehicle (he has since resigned).

Officer Lahovski was hired in 2008 and became a detective in 2009, then was demoted, and ultimately fired not long after receiving a 10 day suspension, as Mayor Daugherty continued to downsize the Nazareth police force. Nazareth cited two reasons for their suspension actions against Lahovski: he did not identify himself as a police officer during an arrest incident and ordering fingerprint equipment without authorization. Video later revealed Lahovski was in uniform.

Officer Lahovski was terminated in September, 2012. He had at least one favorable write-up in The Morning Call, as a detective.

Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. resigned last year and new Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye Jr. is now in the process of rebuilding their own police force after the crime rate spiked and the use of Regional police failed to meet the needs of the community.

Forty Fort

Officer Lahovski worked as their part-time Chief of Police from September 2011 until October of 2012, according the the Express-Times. He resigned from the position without getting specific regarding the reasons.

“I enjoyed my time at Forty Fort. I did what I could for the citizens given the circumstances,” Lahovski said. “There are times when people are engaged in conduct that as a matter of principle I can’t continue with or condone. It’s tough to mesh personal beliefs and professional obligations. I wish them all well.”

In June of 2012, Forty Fort police officer Peter Lakkis filed a lawsuit against Lahovski, claiming he violated his First Amendment rights by preventing him from speaking to the mayor.

That lawsuit was dismissed by a Federal judge in November of 2012.

Wilson

Officer Lahovski is currently employed as a part-time police officer in Wilson Borough.

West Easton

Still to be announced, Officer Lahovski may not be able to serve in an officially sanctioned position of Police Chief beginning on January 1st. Everything isn’t out of committee and there are procedures that have to be followed to meet state requirements.